THE STONELESS PLUM 



Nevertheless there remains not a doubt that 

 from subsequent generations, from the stock in 

 hand, an absolutely stoneless plum that retains all 

 the valued qualities of the fruit and in all sizes, 

 colors and flavors desired will be produced. 



That it has been possible to eliminate the 

 stone altogether, advancing thus markedly in this 

 regard upon the original partially stoneless form 

 with which the experiment began, suggests the 

 truth of a view now held by some prominent 

 biologists, notably by Professor William E. Castle 

 of Harvard, that a unit character may be modified 

 in successive generations — not merely blended or 

 made into a mosaic with other characters, but 

 actually modified as to its potentialities. 



Professor Castle instances in support of this 

 view the case of guinea pigs bred by him that 

 developed a full-sized fourth toe on the hind foot 

 from a rudimentary stump of a toe. 



The experiments just cited illustrate the oppo- 

 site condition of causing a rudimentary organ — 

 in this case a plum stone — to be altogether 

 eliminated. 



It should not be overlooked that both experi- 

 ments are perhaps capable of interpretation in 

 other terms. In each case what actually happens 

 may perhaps be better explained as reversion to 

 a very remote ancestor. Doubtless there were 



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